"Ship-shape" house in Acton?

[ChristineT]

I'm doing research for an elderly friend.  According to family legend, her grandfather William Samuel Page (known as Samuel) b. 1844 in Acton, was a sea captain who was involved in freeing slaves from ships bringing them to UK.  He was also with Livingstone when he discovered the Victoria Falls!

The censuses however, say the he was a Laundry Proprietor!  My friend tells me that he had a large house built in a field in Acton in the shape of a ship.  The family lived for many years in Churchfield Road.

Samuel died on the day Mafeking was relieved, March 1900.

Any help greatfully received!

Christine

[CatOne]

According to this site

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~neils/africa/livingstone.htm

Livingstone discovered the Victoria Falls on an expedition that took place from 1852 to 1856, so would an 8 yr old boy have gone on something like this?? 

The Slavery Abolition Act was passed in 1833, but I think it was around another 20 yrs before it applied to the Islands/plantations, etc

[MaryA]

Same site pinned down the date a little - seems he headed east in November of 1855, and 50 miles en route, he discovered a magnificent waterfall that he named Victoria Falls..... by May 1856 he had arrived at Quilimane on the coast.

Which would still only make your William Samuel 11 or 12 years old.

[ChristineT]

Thanks, I was going to check the dates myself but you beat me to it.  Obviously my friend hadn't checked this out either!

It was more the house I was interseted in finding out about.

Regards

Christine

[Lydart]

Would this site, or the people who run it, be able to help with the house ?

http://www.btinternet.com/~gripp/agraweb/history.htm